A2 Hosting Review 2024

Edited by Michael Levanduski

Updated


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Bottom line: A2 Hosting is a great all-around hosting provider with a good plan for any user. It offers cheap shared hosting plans that cover everything from personal projects to larger businesses. One downside of A2 Hosting is that it only offers Linux, with no support for Windows hosting.

Who should choose A2 Hosting? Bloggers, e-commerce vendors, startups, and larger businesses.

What we like about A2 Hosting

  • Flexibility: A2 provides a wide selection of hosting types, so there’s something for every user, and you can adjust the hosting plan if your needs change.
  • 24/7 support availability: The company offers 24/7 global customer support through phone and live chat.
  • 30-day money-back guarantee: You can get a full refund within 30 days. If you wait longer, you’ll still get a prorated refund for unused service until 90 days.
  • 99.9% uptime guarantee: A2 guarantees 99.9% uptime, meaning your site is guaranteed to be down less than 1/1000th of the time.

What fell flat

  • Visual design: A2’s interface isn’t intuitive or aesthetically pleasing, its website is dated, and the main dashboard is difficult to parse. Overall, A2 is behind its top competitors concerning visual design and ease of use.
  • Long-term contracts: To get the lowest prices, you must commit to a three-year contract. If you opt to go monthly, you will pay over three times the price for each hosting option.
  • No free domain name: A2 doesn’t provide free domain names, so you must acquire a domain name. This adds an extra cost to your hosting subscription.

If A2 Hosting doesn’t quite meet your standards, check out out featured partners to get started with your website today.

Featured Partners

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Grey circle with an i in the middle Featured Partners pay us for placement on our site. When you sign up for one of them using our links, we get paid a small percentage at no cost to you.

Hostinger

The easiest option

Starts at $2.49 per month

  • Fail-proof setup
  • Great for beginners
  • Free AI tools

Bluehost

For new WordPress sites

Starts at $2.95 per month

  • Guided onboarding
  • Recommended by WordPress
  • 24/7 support

HostGator

Best security and scalability

Starts at $3.75 per month

  • All types of hosting
  • Enhanced security tools
  • Affordable as you grow

A2 Hosting’s Editorial Review

A2 Hosting is a solid hosting provider with some notable drawbacks. It’s particularly strong concerning customer support and guaranteed uptime of 99.9% or above, but it is also a somewhat stagnant service that doesn’t seem to be making any major changes. Also, we found a few weaknesses, including the interface and lack of support for Windows.

On top of that, prices increase substantially after the first three years, and A2 is missing some basic features, such as free domain names. Finally, A2 only offered mid-level performance based on our testing and research.

See how we rate e-commerce platforms.

Plans & Pricing

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  • Startup ($2.99 per month)
  • Drive ($5.99 per month)
  • Turbo boost ($6.99 per month)
  • Turbo max ($14.99 per month)

Features

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  • Free SSL certificate
  • Free site migration
  • Unlimited email addresses
  • WordPress site management tools
  • One-click installation for WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, and more
  • cPanel control panel

Performance

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  • A2 Hosting comes with an uptime guarantee of 99.9%

Security

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  • Free SSL certificate
  • 24/7 network monitoring
  • Distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection
  • Daily kernel updates

Support

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  • 24/7 support via phone and live chat

Improvements

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  • According to the A2 Hosting team, “there are no active updates or changes being made to our current product line”
  • A2 Hosting does, however, make sure to keep its systems up to date with the latest industry standards

Plans and Pricing

A2 Hosting offers four shared hosting plans, including:

  • Startup ($2.99 per month)
    • Good for: Single sites
  • Drive ($5.99 per month)
    • Good for: Multiple websites
  • Turbo boost ($6.99 per month)
    • Good for: Small businesses
  • Turbo max ($14.99 per month)
    • Good for: Midsize businesses

All A2 Hosting plans offer unlimited email accounts, a free SSL certificate, free website builder, and a 99.9% uptime commitment.

A2 Hosting Hosting Plans and Pricing

Features

These key features are included with every A2 subscription:

Free SSL certificate

Secure connections rely on SSL certificates to verify the site’s identity and transmit encrypted data to the user’s web browser. You won’t have to worry about finding an SSL certificate if you host your website through A2. Every A2 hosting plan includes a free SSL certificate, and some subscriptions come with a premium one such as RapidSSL.

Free site migration

If you’re bringing an existing website to A2, the team will help you get it on its servers. While some specific situations may require a migration charge, migration is free in most cases.

Unlimited email addresses

Depending on the kind of website you’re hosting, you may want email addresses associated with that domain. Dedicated email addresses may appear more professional than generic email domains such as Gmail or Yahoo. Every A2 Hosting subscription comes with unlimited email addresses as well as unlimited email storage.

WordPress management tools

Even if you’re not on a managed WordPress hosting plan, A2 subscriptions still include pre-installed WordPress. You’ll receive an email with log on instructions, and A2 also provides preset optimizations for both performance and site security.

Quick installation for other software

WordPress is an incredibly popular platform for all kinds of sites. Still, you may prefer another service such as Drupal, Joomla, PrestaShop, or OpenCart. A2 Hosting provides one-click installation for all of these platforms and more.

cPanel control panel

If you opt for a managed A2 Hosting plan, you can access a streamlined cPanel Control Panel. This makes it easy to configure various website settings and view key pieces of information about your site. For example, you can create backups, check site statistics, and manage your email accounts.

Hosting Performance and Uptime

Every A2 Hosting package comes with an uptime guarantee of 99.9%, which works out to a maximum of roughly 45 minutes of downtime per month. In most cases, you’ll be eligible for compensation if your site is ever down for more than 0.1% of a particular month. You will even get a free month of hosting after about 21 hours of downtime in a single month.

Uptime and reliability: 99.9% uptime guarantee

A2 Hosting Uptime
Source: hrank.com

Based on our research, A2 Hosting servers had been up 99.957% over a 30 day testing period. That’s even better than its average uptime over the past five years, which is 99.908%.

While it wouldn’t be fair to call A2 unreliable, its uptime is still lower than what we’ve seen from other top hosting providers. For example, SiteGround’s historical average is 99.991%, which means that A2 experiences roughly 10 times more downtime than SiteGround.

To be fair, it looks like A2 Hosting may have had some issues in 2018 and 2019, where their uptime was 99.979% and 99.759%, respectively. Since then, they have had an average uptime of well over 99.9% consistently.

While I have not been able to find any announcements from them explaining this improvement, it seems clear to me that they did make some sort of change to improve their uptime and reliability.

Site response times

Downtime is incredibly frustrating, but consistently long response times can be even worse. Keep in mind that loading times will depend on your site design and hosting provider. For example, a website with lots of images will typically take longer to load than one that only contains text.

A2 Hosting Response Time
Source: hrank.com

While A2 performed fairly well with respect to uptime, its site response times weren’t quite as impressive. Out of a pool of over 160 web hosts, A2’s response time was in the bottom 20% over the same 30-day period. With an average of 1289 milliseconds, A2 took an average of more than a second to respond.

According to industry standards, as long as a website loads in two seconds (2000 ms) or less, it is acceptable, so A2hosting does meet that, but it would be nice to see them boost their response times a little more.

Security

Every A2 subscription comes with a free SSL certificate. There are also other critical security features such as 24/7 network monitoring, distributed denial of service (DDoS) protection, and daily kernel updates.

SSL certificates

SSL is a standard encryption protocol used for communication between servers and web browsers. Without an SSL certificate, browsers will be unable to create a secure connection to your website. SSL certificates encrypt all communication and ensure that data won’t be intercepted by anyone else.

How SSL certificates work:

SSL certificates are small data files installed on website pages (login screens, payment pages, or online forms) that require users to submit sensitive information, such as name, credit card information, or passwords.

SSL certificates can also be installed on web servers, which enables the use of the more secure HTTPS protocol and, therefore, a secure connection.

Essentially, SSL certificates serve one purpose: to bind together an identifier (domain name, server name, or hostname) and the identity of an organization. This serves as “proof” that the originator or the recipient of the files is who they say they are.

Protecting your data

A2 Hosting offers key security features including:

  • DDoS protection
  • Virus scanning
  • Daily kernel updates
  • Defense against brute force attacks
  • HackScan protection on managed WordPress sites

These will help protect your site from some of the most common cybersecurity threats.

Support

A2 Hosting has some of the best customer support I’ve seen from a web host, with 24/7 service available in many different countries. You can connect via phone or live chat, and response times tend to be quick regardless of the time of day.

You don’t want to wait for the next business day when something goes wrong with your web host. A2 provides responsive 24/7 customer support to help resolve problems as rapidly as possible. The team is available via phone, live chat, and support tickets, so you can reach out in whatever way is best for you.

I was able to resolve many questions without contacting support by simply checking the A2 Knowledge Base. From setup guides to cPanel configurations and information for developers, the Knowledge Base has all the information necessary to work out the most common issues.

Recent Improvements

According to the A2 Hosting team, “there are no active updates or changes being made to our current product line.” A2 Hosting does, however, make sure to keep its systems up to date with the latest industry standards.

Unfortunately, A2 Hosting hasn’t been doing much to iterate its existing offerings. I couldn’t find any information on the website about recent product updates, so I contacted the company directly. While I got a quick response to my message, it only confirmed what I had already suspected:

“In terms of the plans that you see on our A2 Hosting page, they will remain as is. At this time, there are no new or pending product launches but if there are any changes, they will be released directly onto our main a2hosting.com page.”

A2 Hosting Staff

With that in mind, we don’t expect to see major alterations to pricing, functionality, design, or other areas of the A2 Hosting service in the near future. Some other hosting providers are constantly updating their offerings, so it’s possible that A2 will fall behind its top competitors over time.

While A2 Hosting does not seem to be making any major new upgrades to its service offerings, it has kept its current offerings current with the latest features.

Some examples of this include:

  • A2 Hosting upgraded their PHP support to the latest stable version, which is 8.1.
  • In January of 2022, A2 Hosting added in new security features for all their managed WordPress plans. These security features include HackScan Protection, Reinforced DDoS Protection, and KernelCare.
  • A2 Hosting began offering Magento support on managed VPS hosting packages in late 2001.

These updates are in addition to standard version upgrades and other related ‘general maintenance’ types of improvements.

Compare A2 Hosting Alternatives

A2 Hosting is a solid web host, but other providers that offer advantages in some areas. We’ve tested the most popular hosts to compare their pros and cons and identify good options for different users. Take a look at how A2 Hosting stacks up against other leading web hosts:

Web Host

Pricing + Basic Plan Features

$2.99 per month

  • Free SSL certificate
  • Free site migration
  • Unlimited email addresses
  • WordPress site management tools
  • One-click installation for WordPress, WooCommerce, Joomla, and more
  • cPanel control panel

Consider A2 Hosting if:
You need a wide range of subscriptions, 24/7 support, and guaranteed uptime of 99.9% or above

$2.95 per month

  • Guided onboarding
  • Recommended by WordPress
  • 24/7 support

Consider Bluehost if: You’re searching for a dependable web hosting provider that has proven itself through the years

$3.75 per month

  • All types of hosting
  • Enhanced security tools
  • Affordable as you grow

Consider HostGator if:
Security and scaleability are the most important for your SMB

$2.75 per month

  • Great for absolute beginners
  • Drag-and-drop website builder
  • 150+ free templates

Consider Web.com if: 
You need an easy-to-use website builder to get your site up and running in no time at all

$2.99 per month

  • 10 GB SSD storage
  • 100% renewable energy match
  • Daily backups

Consider Siteground if: You’re looking for the latest speed technologies to improve the speed performance of your website

$1.99 per month

  • 50 GB SSD storage
  • Weekly backups
  • 24/7 customer support

Consider Hostinger if: You are planning to create your first website and prefer Shared Hosting options for a much cheaper alternative

Frequently Asked Questions About A2 Hosting

What does A2 Hosting do?

A2 Hosting offers various types of hosting, including shared, VPS, dedicated, reseller, and managed WordPress solutions.

Is A2 Hosting secure?

Yes, A2 Hosting is a secure platform. Every hosting plan comes with a free SSL certificate, and A2 also provides reliable protection against DDoS attacks. Furthermore, many subscriptions come with automatic backups to quickly restore your site if something goes wrong.

What kind of support does A2 Hosting offer?

A2 Hosting offers customer support through phone, email, and live chat. Support is available 24/7, and most users seem to have great experiences. A2 also provides a comprehensive knowledge base with a wide range of details about the service.

How do I cancel my A2 Hosting account?

To cancel your A2 Hosting subscription, start by logging into the customer portal. From there, click My Services and select Manage on the service you want to cancel. Just click Request Cancellation and choose whether you want to cancel immediately or wait until the end of the current billing period.

What are the best alternatives to A2 Hosting?

While you can’t go wrong with A2 Hosting, there are many other good options out there, whether you’re looking for shared, dedicated, cloud, or any other kind of hosting. Some of the top A2 Hosting alternatives include Bluehost, HostGator, and Web.com.

Who owns A2 Hosting?

A2 Hosting has been an independent company since its founding by Bryan Muthig in Ann Arbor in 2001. Muthig still serves as the CEO of A2 Hosting, and the company is still based in Ann Arbor.

Does A2 Hosting support Django?

Yes, A2 Hosting supports Django. However, compatibility may vary depending on the hosting arrangement you select. Check the A2 Hosting Django page to learn more about those hosting services.

Does A2 Hosting have an email limit?

Regardless of the A2 Hosting subscription you opt for, you’ll be able to create an unlimited number of free email addresses. Additionally, A2 doesn’t place any limits on email storage; you just need to stay under the total storage limit associated with your account.

Does A2 Hosting offer migrations?

A2 offers migrations with every hosting plan, and most migrations are complete within 24 to 48 hours. However, there’s always a chance that something will take longer than expected, so the company recommends leaving at least one week of overlap time before you close your former hosting account.

While A2 advertises free migrations, this feature is described in more detail on the website:

“The vast majority of our migrations are free of charge. In some instances, specifically involving more complex and manual migrations we may charge a fee. Any fees will be discussed with you and will require approval from you before any work is done.”

A2 Hosting Knowledge Base

With that in mind, it’s a good idea to contact the team before subscribing if you’re worried about migration fees stemming from your current hosting setup.

How I Rated A2 Hosting

I test web hosts based on the following factors:

  • Plan value: What plans are available, and do they offer a good value?
  • Ease of use: Is the dashboard easy to navigate?
  • Support: How fast can you get help when needed, and is support genuinely helpful?
  • Features: What features does the host offer, and how do they compare to similar competitors?
  • Security: Does the host offer SSL certificates, Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack protection, backup services, and scans for viruses and malware?
  • Speed and uptime: Does the provider offer a fast, stable environment for your website? How does it perform in tests, and what kind of servers does the hosting company use?
  • Recent improvements: What has the host done lately to update its technology and services?

Learn more about our review methodology.

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